The five senses are sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.
We see with our eyes, but "to see" can also be used to mean "to understand" or "to realize." "To watch" something takes longer, like when we watch television. The verb "to look" can be transitive or intransitive. You can look at something to examine it or look (as in “outwardly appear”) a certain way.
Finally, I can see you crystal clear.
Caption 3, Adele: Rolling in the Deep
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Now I can see that we've fallen apart
Caption 27, Backstreet Boys: I Want It That Way
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Make sure you guys watch the whole video if you want to see all that footage.
Caption 22, Aspyn Ovard: What To Pack for Vacation! Tips + Essentials!
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Just look at all those acorns!
Caption 22, America's National Parks: Grand Canyon
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This may look like a massive body of water.
Caption 9, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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The difference between "hearing" and "listening" is a little like the difference between "seeing" and "watching." If you listen to a sound, what someone is saying, or music, you pay close attention rather than just noticing it with your ears.
Did you hear that?
Caption 54, Abiventures: Sandwich
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And then I always listen to music because it helps me work out better.
Caption 41, Harvard: A Day in the Life of a Harvard Student
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So, now listen to how I pronounce the following words.
Caption 8, British vs American English: Pronunciation Lesson
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Our sense of touch is about physical contact and how things feel. There are many phrases that use the idea of touch to describe different types of physical and metaphorical contact. "keep in touch" (remain in contact), "lose their touch," (lose their ability to do something), or "have the right touch" (have certain skills)."
If we touch his tail, he'll get frightened.
Caption 10, Nature & Wildlife: Wild Sharks
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He must be losing his touch.
Caption 42, ALF: Some enchanted evening
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And, of course, a pineapple just to add a touch of the tropics.
Captions 15-16, Tara's Recipes: Delicious Fruit Salad with Greek Yogurt
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Like "to look," the verbs "to smell" and "to taste" can be either transitive or intransitive. They can be used to talk about the action of smelling or tasting, but also to describe how something smells or tastes.
I think I can smell chocolate.
Caption 23, Peppa Pig: Easter Week
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And they smell so good.
Caption 35, Blippi: Cool Science Experiment for Kids
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I'm gonna open up a restaurant, so people can taste my food!
Caption 16, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: Pam's Trinidadian Caribbean Kitchen
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I wanna see what the lambsquarters taste like, first of all.
Caption 38, Food Talk with Sigrid: Foraging
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You may know that "taste" is also a noun meaning someone's idea of what's good or bad and their ability to choose well. It can also refer to a short experience of something.
This show is all about the three Ts of New York: The talent, the trends, and the taste.
Caption 2, On Deck with Lucy: TV Host Jeremy Hassell
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Another thing to be aware of: While "tasty" is a positive adjective, "smelly" means that something smells bad!
Further Learning
There are several videos on the senses on Yabla English where you can learn even more about this topic, including a detailed overview from Sigrid and a fun video about a dog's sense of smell.
Two English words that are often a source of confusion are "further" and "farther." Are they the same or not? It doesn't help that many native English speakers get these words mixed up, and that they are handled differently in British and American English.
In American English, "farther" refers to actual, measurable physical distance:
The second stage propelled the spacecraft even farther and faster into space.
Caption 45, Moon Landing: Apollo 11’s Journey to the Moon
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He looked out onto the meadow that stretched for as far as he could see and even farther.
Captions 57-59, Story Hour: The Story of The Ugly Duckling
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...like with the Andes, or farther inland like the Rocky Mountains.
Caption 63, The Last Paradises: America's National Parks
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The word "further," on the other hand, is used when talking about extent, amount, or figurative distance:
And we now face further uncertainty.
Caption 5, Brexit: PM Says He Will Pause Brexit Legislation after Timetable Loss
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Don't need to look no [sic, any] further.
Caption 4, Adele: The Making of "Chasing Pavements"
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First, the Americans released a further three hundred and fifty million dollars.
Caption 13, BBC News: Western aid for Ukraine's military
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In British English, the word "further" is generally used for both physical distance and as a synonym for "more"/"even more," "additional," "extra," or "to a greater extent." "Farther" is still only used for physical distance.
Further Learning
You'll find many examples of "further" or "farther" on Yabla English. When you see these words, pay attention to the accent of the speaker as well as the context the word is used in.
Thanks to you all for reading this, keep up the good work! If you have any good ideas for lesson topics, please email them to us at [email protected], and you can tweet us @yabla.
There are a lot of English expressions suggesting that somebody or something is "crazy." But please remember: while it may be perfectly polite to use such expressions regarding objects or situations, it can be rude and aggressive using them to describe people. A dictionary even warns: "The reference of the adjective "crazy" (and words derived from it) to mentally or psychologically ill people is strongly discriminatory." It also might get somebody very angry with you, so it's a better policy to be polite!
... a thin, pale, watery cup of tea that nobody in their right mind would want to drink.
Captions 15-16, Simon Jones: On Tea
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If somebody is described as "not being in their right mind," it suggests that they are not thinking clearly.
I can't imagine my life without the ocean. I would go absolutely nuts!
Caption 19, Naish Kiteboarding TV: Kai Riding Jaws
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'Cause they'll drive you good and nuts.
Caption 7, Ask Jimmy Carter: Interview with Robin Williams
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The phrase "to go nuts" means the same as "to go crazy." If something "is driving somebody nuts," it means that something is making them crazy. There is also an old-fashioned expression "to be nutty as a fruitcake," which also suggests "crazy."
Some say to survive it you need to be as mad as a hatter.
Caption 5, Filmtrailer: Alice in Wonderland
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The 19th century English children's book Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll had a character called the Mad Hatter, hence the phrase "mad as a hatter." In the old days, hatmakers were exposed to mercury, which would eventually damage their health and their minds. Note that in British English, "mad" means "crazy," whereas in US English, "mad" usually means "angry."
And I'm always off my trolley, so I never say sorry.
Caption 19, Robbie Williams: Party Like A Russian
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The expression that somebody is "off their trolley" is a particularly British expression meaning "crazy"—or as they would say, "mad." The equivalent American English expression is to say somebody is "off their rocker." The source of the latter phrase is uncertain, but it may refer to elderly people falling out of their rocking chairs due to senile dementia. Not very nice, is it?
Some further idioms and expressions that mean "crazy" include:
—to go (or be) bananas
—to be a basket case
—to not be playing with a full deck of cards
—to have the lights on, but nobody is home
—to lose one's marbles
—to have a screw loose
—to take leave of one's senses
—to have toys in the attic
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the above videos in their entirety to see the contexts in which the expressions were used.
Abbiamo già parlato di alcune preposizioni di movimento. In questa lezione ve ne presentiamo altre, ugualmente importanti e usate nelle everyday conversations (conversazioni di tutti i giorni).
Across indica movimento da un lato all'altro di una superficie (nel senso della larghezza).
A dash across the nighttime terrain
Una corsa attraverso il terreno notturno
Caption 45, America's National Parks Grand Canyon - Part 2
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Può essere usata anche con verbi di stato in luogo:
There's a hairdresser across the road.
C'è un parrucchiere sull'altro lato della strada
Through indica passaggio da una parte all'altra all'interno di qualcosa (nel senso della profondità). Nota le espressioni through the binoculars / the window / the door... (attraverso il binocolo / la finestra / la porta...).
Well, sort of a bobsled run; mini sleds run through the forest.
Be', una sorta di pista da bob; mini slitte [che] corrono attraverso la foresta.
Caption 33, 16x9 - Cool Runnings Truth Behind Original Jamaican Bobsled Team - Part 2
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They walked along a path, hand in hand.
Camminarono lungo un sentiero, mano nella mano.
Caption 17, Basic Vocabulary Common words in context - Part 19
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entrambe segnalano la fine di un percorso:
Go as far as / up to the station and park there.
Vai fino alla stazione e parcheggia lì.
indica la direzione:
I'm going towards the station. Do you want a ride?
Sto andando verso la stazione. Vuoi un passaggio?
Caption 51, The Alphabet The Letter W
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Walk past the boutique shops on your right hand side
Prosegui oltre le boutique sul tuo lato destro
Caption 28, Giving Directions with Lauren and Matt
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Le preposizioni past e to vengono usate anche per esprimere l'ora: past per indicare di quanti minuti si supera l'ora intera, fino alla mezz'ora (half past)...; to per indicare quanti minuti mancano all'ora successiva.
What time is it? -It's twenty past nine. (Che ore sono? -Sono le nove e venti.)
What's the time, please? -It's a quarter to three. (Che ore sono? -Manca un quarto alle tre).
indicano movimento verso l'alto o verso il basso.
They climbed up the hill.
Si sono arrampicati sulla collina.
The cat ran down the tree.
Il gatto è corso giù dall'albero.
Ricorda le preposizioni che si usano con i verbi che indicano "arrivare":
get to... arrivare a
arrive at... arrivare in un luogo (station, airport, my house)
arrive in... arrivare in una città o Paese (London, Britain, the USA)
reach + complemento oggetto - quindi nessuna preposizione - raggiungere, giungere a...
Ricorda anche leave a place (partire da un luogo), leave for a place (partire per un luogo).
Let's talk today about the noun "foot" (and its plural "feet") as the word is used in different idioms and expressions. It's interesting that many English expressions may have the same or similar expressions in your native language. But the ones that don't may take a bit of getting used to, since direct translations often don't make any sense at all!
The mud at the foot of the cone makes a perfect cement.
Caption 7, America's National Parks: Yellowstone
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Closer to the foot of the bed ...
Caption 13, The Cure: Lullaby
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The English expression "the foot of" means "the base" or "the bottom" of something. It's most commonly used for the foot of a mountain or (as above) the foot of a bed. The latter is easy to remember since the foot of the bed is where your feet go when you lie down!
Let's hope the snow's gone come kick-off time, otherwise all the teams will get cold feet.
Caption 29, World Cup 2018: A Tour of Cities and Venues
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The caption above is ironically meant, in that of course, playing in the snow would make a soccer player's feet cold. But the meaning of "to get cold feet" is "to be afraid," so it also means that soccer players are afraid of playing in the snow!
But I think it's in my best interest and in the interest of the bear community to put the best foot forward.
Captions 72-74, Habitat: The Bear
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In US English (as above), the phrase "to put one's best foot forward" means "to behave very well so as to make a good first impression." However, in British English, it means "to do something with as much effort and determination as possible." The two meanings are not necessarily compatible.
What was that like having one foot in the door?
Caption 53, Movie Trailers: Funny People
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To "have one foot in the door" is a figurative way of saying "to gain entry" or "to get an opportunity." People often use the expression when they are close to achieving a goal, such as getting a new job.
So Columbus never actually set foot in North America.
Caption 18, Slow News with Sigrid: October commemorations in the U.S.
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To "set foot" somewhere means "to have been" somewhere. Many US Americans grew up learning that Christopher Columbus "discovered America," which in most people's minds means the part of North America that constitutes the United States. The phrase has fallen into disrepute, however, since the land Columbus "discovered" was already occupied by native peoples. Columbus was not even the first European to land in the Americas, as the Norse were already there centuries earlier. And as the comment above shows, none of the parts of the Americas where Columbus "set foot" were in North America.
And I can't sweep you off of your feet.
Caption 2, Ed Sheeran: Thinking Out Loud
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The usual phrase is "to sweep someone off their feet," but perhaps Mr. Sheeran needed an extra syllable in his song! It means "to cause somebody to fall in love with you."
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the above videos in their entirety to see the contexts in which the expressions were used. Just for fun, you can take a look at this extensive list of other foot expressions!
Father's Day always falls on the third Sunday in June in the United States and the United Kingdom. This holiday was established in 1910 in the US state of Washington, and remains the most popular Father's Day date in the world. This year, Father's Day is on June 18th.
Most countries in the world celebrate Father's Day, as you can see on this map on Wikipedia Commons. In many places like the US and the UK, the date falls on a particular Sunday of the month. But in some countries, the date is fixed and the same every year. In some Hindu, Islamic, and Burmese cultures, it falls on a date that varies each year according to the lunar calendar.
Let's take a look today at some typical Father's Day traditions in the US and the UK. These might be the same as you do in your home country, but maybe they'll help give you some ideas for Father's Day this year anyway!
But it later became a permanent federal holiday.
Caption 34, Spotlight: Why Columbus Day?
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A federal holiday (called a "bank holiday" in the UK) is a holiday where most people have the day off from work and where, depending on the local laws, many shops, offices, and institutions are closed. Father's Day in the US and the UK, however, is just a regular holiday, and not a federal or bank holiday. The fact that it always falls on a Sunday means that most people take the day off from work anyway!
My father yells, "What are you going do with your life?"
Caption 7, Cyndi Lauper: Girls Just Want to Have Fun
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Relationships with our fathers are sometimes problematic, but hopefully we've been able to forgive and forget, and maintain a healthy relationship with our dads.
This Mother's Day you might want to make her a card.
Caption 70, World's Toughest Job: Official Video
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It's also part of the holiday's tradition to send your dad a Father's Day card.
And what do you hope to get for a present this year?
Caption 15, Christmas in London: People
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This video caption is referring to Christmas presents, but you can also consider getting your dad a present for Father's Day. Then the question remains: What would he like to have?
We went out to dinner.
Caption 17, Sigrid: The New Normal
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If you live near your father, it's also a nice gesture to invite him out to dinner. It's also a nice gesture make dinner at your home and invite him over.
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the videos above. Maybe there are some Father's Day traditions in your native country that aren't discussed here. Try writing a paragraph in English about Father's Day traditions where you came from.
Today we're going to focus on a BBC news report from last year about water shortages in the Western United States, but the topic applies to many places in the world.
The Western United States is now entering one of the worst droughts ever seen.
Captions 24-25, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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A drought (rhymes with "doubt") is a prolonged period of dryness that is usually caused by a shortage of rainfall or snowfall.
Then, in a place like the West, we get wildfires.
Caption 29, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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A wildfire is a large and sweeping fire in a wilderness or rural area. When a wildfire happens in a forest, it's called a "forest fire." The Canadian wildfires that filled many US cities with smoke starting in March 2023 are also a result of drought. The smoke from the fires made many cities issue warnings to residents to keep their windows closed and not go outside.
But thousands of acres are now lying idle, because they're unable to irrigate.
Captions 35-36, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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An acre is a unit of measurement, used primarily in the USA and the UK, that is around 4,000 square meters. The verb "irrigate" means to supply land and crops with water by artificial means, such as pumps and diverting river flows. The noun equivalent is "irrigation."
We're looking at food shortages in the United States.
Captions 44-45, BBC News: California ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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Because of the lack of water for farms, there's a possibility that some kinds of food made with ingredients grown in the USA may be in short supply.
The government has urged Californians to conserve water.
Caption 46, BBC News California: ‘crippling drought’ leads to strict water restrictions
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The verb "to conserve" means to avoid the wasteful use of something. Water conservation measures are essential during times of drought. According to the BBC, the first three months of 2022 were the driest on record in the Western United States, but during this period, water usage actually increased!
So you see how a shortage of precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) has a domino effect: it hurts farming, causes wildfires and forest fires, and has a major impact on health and the economy. The city of Phoenix, Arizona has even suspended previously approved house-building projects due to the projected lack of water for them. Cities like Las Vegas, Nevada have even banned lawns as "nonfunctional," since maintaining them requires so much water. Phoenix has not yet implemented such drastic measures. Similar programs are taking place all over the Western United States.
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the video above in its entirety. You can also watch the Sigrid "Slow News" video in New Videos above. Then you may do a search for other videos using some of the keywords above. What can you and your family do to conserve water?
La stagione estiva è per eccellenza la stagione delle vacanze e dei viaggi. Al mare, in montagna, nelle grandi città. Viaggi rilassanti, viaggi avventurosi, partenze lunghe o brevi. Con gli amici, con la famiglia, con i propri partner o da soli. E se abbiamo voglia di fare nuove amicizie in posti altrettanto nuovi, basta fare un piccolo brush up di inglese prima di partire . E a proposito di inglese, quante parole conoscete per parlare dei viaggi? In questa lezione, esploreremo i sostantivi travel, journey e trip.
Il sostantivo travel è una parola generica che sta ad indicare l'attività stessa del viaggio.
People spend far more on foreign travel than they did 50 years ago.
La gente spende molto di più per i viaggi all'estero rispetto a 50 anni fa.
Nell'esempio successivo, la parola travel è stata tradotta in italiano con il verbo "viaggiare". Effettivamente, travel è usato maggiormente come verbo, ma se provate a sostituire "viaggiare" con "il viaggio", il significato rimane invariato.
So, as travel became more affordable, many southern Italians embarked on the perilous voyage by ship to the United States to find work.
Quindi, poiché viaggiare diventò più accessibile, molti italiani del sud si imbarcarono nel pericoloso viaggio in nave verso gli Stati Uniti per trovare lavoro.
Captions 27-29, Spotlight Why Columbus Day? - Part 1
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La parola voyage deriva dal francese e per gli italiani non è difficile comprenderne il significato. Con voyage ci riferiamo ad un viaggio molto lungo, come quello che si fa quando si attraversa un oceano, o quello che intraprende una navicella spaziale o un sottomarino. Tendenzialmente, questa parola viene usata meno nel quotidiano e ad essa sono associati altri sostantivi quali travel, journey, movement, course, errand, mission, crusade.
Il sostantivo journey è sicuramente un sinonimo di travel. Si riferisce ad un extended travel (viaggio più lungo), ma è usato anche per parlare della distanza che si percorre quando si viaggia da un posto all'altro.
I have a fourteen hundred kilometer journey. It's the longest journey I've ever done with rhino!
Ho un viaggio di millequattrocento chilometri. È il viaggio più lungo che abbia mai fatto con i rinoceronti!
Captions 23-24, WWF: Making a Difference Rhino Conservation
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In senso figurato, journey è usato per parlare di viaggi che non hanno a che fare con mezzi di trasporto, partenze e arrivi e luoghi lontani. In certi casi, si riferisce a esperienze di vita o semplici esperienze emozionanti e divertenti.
This spectacular show takes you on an electrifying journey through Michael Jackson's musical legacy.
Questo show spettacolare vi porta in un viaggio elettrizzante attraverso l'eredità musicale di Michael Jackson.
Captions 25-26, Visit London Top 10 London Musicals
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Il sostantivo trip si riferisce ad un viaggio di breve durata:
She met plenty of interesting people during her weekend trip to Montreal.
Ha conosciuto un sacco di persone interessanti durante il viaggio nel fine settimana a Montreal.
In italiano, trip può essere tradotto anche con gita. Nel video A Weekend in Amsterdam - Planning the Trip, una ragazza sta organizzando un fine settimana ad Amsterdam per il suo compleanno: She's planning a trip (sta organizzando una gita).
Trattandosi quindi di un viaggio breve, la parola trip è usata in espressioni come business trip (viaggio d'affari, viaggio di lavoro), boating trip (gita in barca) e ancora, road trip (viaggio su strada), school trip (gita scolastica), day trip (gita/escursione in giornata).
Provate ad immaginare il vostro prossimo viaggio e decidete where to go (dove andare), how to get there (come arrivarci) e what to do when you arrive (e cosa fare appena arrivati). Have a good trip!
Una cosa che può risultare difficile quando si impara una nuova lingua è l'uso delle preposizioni. Quando parli la tua lingua madre, raramente usi una preposizione sbagliata all'interno di una frase e se provi a tradurre letteralmente, per esempio dall'italiano all'inglese, una frase come "andiamo al mare", magari usi at (molto simile ad "a"), al posto di to: Let's go to the beach. Let's go at the beach.
Le preposizioni di moto indicano uno spostamento da o verso qualcosa. Seguono sempre dei verbi di movimento, per esempio to go (andare), to get (arrivare), to return (ritornare), to drive (andare con l'auto).
La preposizione to è usata per indicare moto a luogo e ha più di un significato: "a", "in", "verso", "nella direzione di"...
People use bike share to commute to work or school, run errands, get to appointments...
La gente usa la bici condivisa per recarsi al lavoro o a scuola, per sbrigare commissioni, per andare ad appuntamenti...
Captions 37-38, Slow News with Sigrid Bike Share in NYC
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La preposizione to non viene mai usata con la parola home (casa):
Let's go home.
Andiamo a casa. (la casa di chi parla)
Ma attenzione...
I'll just have time to walk Victor down to Andrew's house.
Ho giusto il tempo di accompagnare Victor a casa di Andrew.
Caption 15, Between Two Women The Movie - Part 4
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Ricorda queste espressioni con la preposizione to:
to go to work / to school / to the hospital (andare al lavoro / a scuola / in ospedale)
to go to prison / jail (andare in prigione)
to go to bed (andare a letto)
welcome to... (benvenuto a)
a journey /trip to... (un viaggio a...)
Have you ever been to...? (Sei mai stato a...?)
La preposizione into indica sposamento verso l'interno di un luogo chiuso. Il suo significato è "in", "dentro".
[...] moving into a new apartment
[...] trasferirmi in un appartamento nuovo
Caption 15, Abiventures Happy New Year
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They went into the shop.
Entrarono nel negozio.
La preposizione into è usata anche con i verbi translate (tradurre), change (cambiare) e turn (diventare) che implicano la trasformazione di qualcosa:
I translated this book from English into Italian.
Ho tradotto questo libro dall'inglese all'italiano.
Everything I do turns into a disaster.
Ogni cosa che faccio si trasforma in un disastro.
Caption 4, A Charlie Brown Christmas True Meaning
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La preposizione from significa "da" e indica provenienza, moto da luogo e origine.
Hey, I'm Jenny from England.
Ciao, io sono Jenny dall'Inghilterra.
Caption 1, Accents One language, three accents
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I got a letter from my Australian pen frien.
Ho ricevuto una lettera dal mio corrispondente australiano.
Away from (via da) indica allontamento:
[...] Here, the North American plate is moving away from the Eurasian plate
[...] Qui, la placca del Nord America si allontana dalla placca dell'Eurasia
Caption 51, The Last Paradises America's National Parks - Part 2
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Osserva l'uso di alcune preposizioni per indicare le azioni di scendere e salire riferite ai mezzi di trasporto:
to get into a car / a taxi / a van (saline su un'automobile / un taxi / un furgone)
to get out of a car/ a taxi / a van (scendere da un'automobile/ un taxi / un furgone)
to get on a train / a bus / a boat / a plane (salire un treno / un autobus / una nave / un aereo)
to get off a train / a bus / a boat / a plane (scendere da un treno / un autobus / una nave / un aereo)
to get on a bicycle / a motorbike (salire su una bicicletta, una moto)
to get off a bicycle / a motorbike (scendere da una bicicletta, una moto)
Il cibo, da sempre elemento culturale, è ormai diventato non solo un piacere per il palato, ma anche per gli occhi. Così, prima di godersi un piatto, in tanti si fermano per fotografarlo e condividerlo poi sui social. Infatti, il cibo è diventato social e oggi, nel mondo, ci sono tantissimi siti web, blog e app dedicati al mondo culinario. Ce n'è davvero per tutti i gusti: ricette tradizionali e piatti stellati, pietanze esotiche e piatti vegani.
E non dimentichiamo i cooking show televisivi, ovvero tutti quei programmi in cui il cibo è protagonista e che hanno appassionato i telespettatori di tutto il mondo.
Cucinare (cooking) è un'azione quotidiana nella quale è racchiusa tutta una serie di termini indispensabili utilizzati nelle cucine professionali e in quelle casalinghe.
Pertanto, abbiamo estratto dalla videoteca di Yabla inglese alcuni vocaboli utilizzati in cucina, per la preparazione dei nostri piatti.
Then we have the cutting board and the knife.
Poi abbiamo il tagliere e il coltello.
Captions 22-23, Luana explains Cooking utensils - Part 1
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We also have a pot, which is usually used to make more liquid foods
Abbiamo anche una pentola, che di solito viene usata per preparare cibi più liquidi
Captions 38-39, Luana explains Cooking utensils - Part 1
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So, here, I've just put the potatoes in the colander, that is, to drain the water out, and I'm leaving them to cool.
Quindi, qui, ho semplicemente messo le patate nel colino, che serve a scolare l'acqua e le lascio raffreddare.
Captions 36-38, Michele from Down Under Crispy and Spicy Roast Potatoes
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You use a potato peeler to peel the potatoes.
Usate un pelapatate per pelare le patate.
Caption 5, Michele from Down Under Crispy and Spicy Roast Potatoes
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We can cook beans in different ways. I'm going to boil my beans tonight, but I could steam them, or I could even just saute them in olive oil.
Possiamo cucinare i fagioli in diversi modi. Farò bollire i miei fagioli stasera, ma potrei farli al vapore, o potrei perfino saltarli nell'olio d'oliva.
Captions 15-17, Food Talk with Sigrid Simple Summer Vegetables - Part 1
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I can bake chocolate chip cookies
So preparare i biscotti con le gocce di cioccolato
Caption 54, Side by Side - Beginners Expressing abilities
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Nota bene: to bake si utilizza specialmente per tutte quelle pietanze che vanno cotte in forno.
And in the meantime, I'll chop up some garlic.
E nel frattempo, tagliuzzo un po' di aglio.
Caption 50, Pro Home Cooks 15 Minute Dinners - Part 1
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Stir everything together, and then we'll lower the heat,
Mescoliamo tutto insieme e poi abbassiamo il fuoco,
Caption 23, Rainbow Plant Life Best dish for a vegan skeptic - Part 2
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e successivamente...
Cover the pan, and let the lentils simmer for twenty to twenty-five minutes
Copriamo la padella e lasciamo cuocere le lenticchie rosse a fuoco lento per venti o venticinque minuti
Caption 24, Rainbow Plant Life Best dish for a vegan skeptic - Part 2
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Nella sezione "cibo" della videoteca di Yabla Inglese troverete più di 60 video dedicati al mondo della cucina: piatti da preparare in soli 15 minuti, ricette vegane, dolci, abitduini alimentari e tanto altro! Date anche un'occhiata ad alcuni vocaboli comunemente usati in cucina e nei ristoranti.
potholders: presine
a bowl: una ciotola
leftovers: avanzi
to season: condire
dough: impasto
The term "climate change" is generally used to describe how mankind's activities are affecting our climate today in ways that have a serious impact on our environment, our economy, and our lives.
In order to understand human-induced climate change, or global warming,
we need to understand something about burning fossil fuels.
Captions 7-8, Chemistry for All | FuseSchool - How Burning Fossil Fuels Leads to Climate Change
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Wikipedia describes fossil fuel as a material "such as coal, oil, and natural gas, formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the remains of dead plants and animals, that is extracted and burned as a fuel." The air pollution caused by fossil fuels causes global warming. Global warming, in turn, is the largely human-caused increase of our planet's temperatures over the last decades. If global warming continues....
... the glaciers will melt
and the level of the seas will rise unpredictably.
Captions 48-49, Once upon a Time... Planet Earth - The Guardians of the Planet
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As a result...
Countless deltas in coastal regions will be flooded.
Caption 50, Once upon a Time... Planet Earth - The Guardians of the Planet
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In addition to these problems...
So there are more floods, droughts, and storms.
Caption 66, Chemistry for All | FuseSchool - How Burning Fossil Fuels Leads to Climate Change
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A drought is the opposite of a flood: instead of too much water, there isn't enough. Without enough water, farmers are unable to grow the kinds of food that they used to in the past. Property, crops, and even human lives are lost as a direct result of storms, floods, and droughts caused by global warming.
The single most effective and significant action
that can be taken in the short term to stabilize global warming
is to stop tropical rainforest destruction.
Captions 6-8, The Prince's Rainforests Project - Prince of Wales' Introduction
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King (formerly Prince) Charles of Great Britain is probably correct in his statement that stopping the destruction of rainforests would help slow climate change. However, it's only going to change if wealthy people like King Charles and large profit-driven corporations are made to take financial and moral responsibility for the destruction they are causing.
But they won't make the necessary changes
because they have put their astronomical profits before people.
Captions 8-9, Breaking News - Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen
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The article above is referring to Facebook, but it's just as valid for companies that continue to make record profits from fossil fuels. Let's hope that the wealthiest people and companies are someday able to recognize that the planet they are polluting is the same planet where they, their families, and their descendants are supposed to be living. But in order to do that, they'll have to put humanity's long-term survival before their own profit margins.
Let's each of us continue to do our small part in reducing our consumption of products that directly lead to global warming!
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the videos above. You can also search for some of the highlighted words to find more English videos related to climate change.
In Part III of "Nationalities," we are going to continue Part I and Part II and talk about the names of the main languages that are spoken and the adjectives used to describe somebody from that country. Usually, the noun for the language spoken is the same as the adjective for somebody who resides there. Note that in English, unlike many other languages, even the adjectives for nationalities are usually written with a capital letter.
For example, in the country Spain, most people of Spanish nationality speak the Spanish language. But there are also exceptions: In the United States, most Americans speak English. It is interesting that the residents of the United States choose to call themselves "Americans," when in fact all of the people in the countries in North, Central, and South America could equally call themselves "Americans."
Let's take a look today at some countries we didn't discuss in the first two lessons whose country names and/or languages differ from the nationalities.
And look at that temperature in Brazil!
Caption 69, Side by Side - Beginners - The Weather
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This is also by Kobra, the Brazilian street artist.
Caption 16, John S in New York - Kobra
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I can speak Portuguese.
Captions 25-26, Side by Side - Beginners - Expressing abilities
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In the country of Brazil, most Brazilian people speak the Portuguese language.
––––––––––––
I come from Canada.
Caption 19, English Grammar in Use - Present Simple
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Canadian kids are stepping up.
Caption 19, CBS News - The Easter Bunny in New Zealand
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They brought many French words that became part of English.
Caption 46, The Alphabet - Introduction to the Alphabet
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In the country of Canada, most Canadian people speak predominantly English or French. In the Canadian province Quebec, most people speak French and are called French Canadians.
––––––––––––
The whole world was turned upside down by pictures from Ethiopia.
Caption 6, Make Poverty History - Bono
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But a black runner never won the marathon until 1960,
when an Ethiopian runner did it barefoot.
Captions 11-12, Olympics 2012 - Fun Facts
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In the country of Ethiopia, the dominant language spoken by the Ethiopian people is Amharic.
––––––––––––
They were colonized by Spain, and so was the Philippines.
Caption 54, Turn Here Productions - San Francisco, CA
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What's been the response to your winning from the Filipino people?
Caption 36, Miss World - Megan Young - Hello London!
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In the country of the Philippines, most of the Filipino people speak Filipino or Tagalog.
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and find more videos that use some of the country names, dominant languages, and nationalities used above and listed below. You can also see a more complete list of countries, their people, and their languages here.
Country Language Nationality
Australia English Australian
Brazil Portuguese Brazilian
Chile Spanish Chilean
China Chinese Chinese
Egypt Arabic Egyptian
Hungary Hungarian Hungarian
Italy Italian Italian
Japan Japanese Japanese
Korea Korean Korean
Netherlands Dutch Dutch
Portugal Portuguese Portuguese
Russia Russian Russian
United States English American
Se avete deciso di allargare i vostri orizzonti, a tal punto da voler pack your things (fare i bagagli) e trasferirvi all'estero, allora vi servirà un posto in cui stare. Magari all'inizio potreste decidere di condividere un appartamento con qualcuno, o di farvi ospitare da una persona che conoscete già disposta a cedervi il divano per un breve periodo.
Ma presto potrebbe arrivare il momento di cercare qualcosa che faccia davvero al caso vostro. Qualcosa non troppo distante dal vostro lavoro, ma anche abbastanza in centro, che però non vi costi an arm and a leg (un occhio della testa)... be', potrebbe volerci un po' di tempo, quindi iniziate intanto a raccogliere qualche informazione utitle sul mercato immobiliare del Paese che avete deciso di conquistare (anche solo nei vostri sogni).
La prima cosa da ricordare è che nel Regno Unito e negli Stati Uniti si usano due termini diversi per indicare un appartamento con più stanze su un solo piano: flat nel Regno Unito e apartment negli Stati Uniti. Va da sé che usare uno al posto dell'altro in entrambi i Paesi non creerà nessun misunderstanding (fraintendimento).
I got used to renting flats when I was a student and the habit stuck.
Mi sono abituata a prendere appartamenti in affitto quando ero una studentessa e l'abitudine è rimasta.
Caption 3, Between Two Women - The Movie
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Are you still looking for an apartment?
Stai ancora cercando un appartamento?
Caption 3, Side by Side - Beginners - Looking for an apartment
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Il primo passo per trovare un appartamento è cercarlo! Alcune persone usano spesso l'espressione apartment-hunting per dire che sono a caccia di un appartamento. Per cominciare a cercare una casa negli Stati Uniti, oltre alle agenzie immobiliari, alla ricerca nei quotidiani americani (ad esempio, la sezione sul mercato immobiliare sul New York Times) e alla conoscenza di contatti diretti tramite passaparola, ci si può affidare ad alcuni siti internet.
Hi, I'm calling about an apartment that I saw listed on craigslist?
Salve, chiamo per un appartamento che ho visto [messo in subaffitto] su craigslist?
Caption 33, Jessica and Liz - How Much and How Many
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Cercare su Internet è uno dei modi più semplici e veloci per trovare annunci su appartamenti in affitto o in subaffitto. Oltre a craigslist, negli Stati Uniti uno dei siti più usati è Zillow. Dopo aver trovato un appartamento che soddisfa le vostre esigenze, come il numero di camere da letto, il prezzo, servizi adeguati nel quartiere, ecc., potete prendere un appuntamento per vedere l'appartamento.
How much does it cost? -A thousand a month.
Quanto costa? -Mille al mese.
Caption 36, Jessica and Liz - How Much and How Many
Play Caption
Can I come see it? -Sure. Uh, why don't you come by Thursday...
Posso venire a vederlo? -Certo. Eh, perché non passi giovedì...
Captions 47-48, Jessica and Liz - How Much and How Many
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Di solito, negli Stati Uniti, per stipulare a lease (un contratto di locazione) viene richiesto di soddisfare alcuni parametri finanziari relativi al reddito e alla propria storia creditizia. Potrebbe anche essere necessaria una lettera di referenze da parte del precedente proprietario di casa, documento utile a garantire la propria affidabilità. Se tutto filerà liscio e se l'appartamento vi piacerà, allora potrete put down a deposit (versare una cauzione).
...and if you're interested you can put down a deposit.
...e se sei interessata puoi versare una cauzione.
-How much money do you want for the deposit?
-Quanti soldi vuoi per la cauzione?
-Two hundred for the deposit and I'd like the first month's rent up front.
-Duecento per la cauzione e vorrei l'affitto del primo mese in anticipo.
Captions 49-51, Jessica and Liz - How Much and How Many
Play Caption
La cauzione, di solito, viene versata direttamente al proprietario di casa oppure su un contro di garanzia condiviso (shared escrow account). Dopo aver firmato il contratto, il proprietario di casa vi consegnerà le chiavi del vostro nuovo appartamento.
To come visit me, you have to ring the bell
Per venire a trovarmi, dovete suonare il citofono
for the third floor, which is my apartment.
del terzo piano, dove c'è il mio appartamento.
But I have my keys with me. I will unlock the door.
Ma ho le mie chiavi con me. Aprirò la porta.
Captions 5-7, Visiting Caralie - At the Entrance
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Ora andate su Yabla Inglese e guardate la serie Looking for an Apartment per ripassare quello che avete imparato e scoprire tanto altro ancora. E buona fortuna per la vostra apartment-hunting!
Happy Women's History Month in March! Many countries celebrate International Women's Day every year on March 8th, some as official public holidays, and some less formally. Unfortunately, none of the major English-speaking countries—the United States, the United Kingdom, or Canada—observe the holiday officially. The United States has, however, made Women's History Month a "proclaimed" one-month observance since 1987. Every year, the White House makes an official proclamation about it.
This experience has convinced me that we all need to focus on the issues that afflict women around the world, and we need to do it now.
Captions 9-10, A Message from Prince Harry - At the CHIME for Change Concert
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What are some of the issues that affect, or as Prince Harry puts it, afflict women around the world?
You're disrespectful, bullying, sexist, and I hate to say it, misogynistic.
Caption 14, Madonna - The Glee Club
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You probably know what the first three words above mean, but do you know what is meant by "misogyny"? This unpleasant word comes from the ancient Greek words for "hate" and "women."
Women's liberation has made us not have to be slaves to our anatomy.
Captions 57-58, Mayim Bialik - Open Relationships
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"Women's liberation" is a term for the women's rights movement. And while it is true that women's rights have advanced a lot in some countries, there is still a long way to go for women to truly have equal rights under the law and in real practice around the world.
By investing in education and women's rights, and raising people out of poverty, we could bring about "peak human" even sooner.
Captions 12-14, WWF International - How to Save Our Planet
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In this video, the speakers believe that better women's rights are essential in improving the evolution of humanity.
Thank you for showing your support for women's rights.
Caption 4, A Message from Prince Harry - At the CHIME for Change Concert
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You are very welcome, Prince Harry.
Further Learning
But seriously—and this goes for everyone, not just the males of the species: When is the last time you had a good talk about women's rights? Watch the videos above on Yabla English and write down some questions that come to mind in English. Then, either in small groups or in tandems, talk about your views on some of the issues. How we can improve our support for women's rights in our own lives?
In last month's Yabla English lesson, we discussed heterographs. Today, we'll be taking a look at homographs. These are homophonic words that sound the same and are spelled the same but have different meanings. Homographs can be quite confusing in spoken language, because the only way to know the meanings of the words that sound the same is by the context in which they are used. The word "homograph" comes from Ancient Greek and literally means "written the same."
A female brown bear has shown up in the delta with her cub.
Caption 10, Nature & Wildlife - Search for the Ghost Bear
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OK, sure, it looks complicated, but bear with us.
Caption 3, Brexit - What Happens When the UK Leaves the EU?
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The noun "bear" is a large and sometimes dangerous land mammal. The verb "to bear" means to carry something or to go along with something. Thus, somebody who "bears arms" is carrying weapons, and "to bear with somebody" is literally to follow them or figuratively to follow a concept they are explaining. The verb "to bear" can also mean to have children or offspring. Here is an example of a homophone pair in a single sentence: "The mother bear was ready to bear her cubs."
There was a mother duck sitting on her seven eggs.
Caption 6, Fairy Tales - The Ugly Duckling
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I've also always believed that we have to confront big decisions, not duck them.
Caption 36, Brexit - David Cameron Resigns as UK Votes to Leave
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The noun "duck" is a flat-billed water fowl or bird, whereas the verb "to duck" means literally to lower your head for safety, or figuratively to avoid something. Thus the question "Can a duck duck?" is asking if this species of bird is capable of lowering its head for safety. It sounds pretty funny too, right?
Why, she wouldn't even harm a fly.
Caption 23, Alice Cooper - Along Came a Spider
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Airplanes fly there every day.
Caption 41, Motorcycle Masters - Birmingham Alabama
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This one is quite easy. The noun "fly" is an insect, and the verb "to fly" is to move through the air. Unless it's in pretty bad health, your average housefly should be able to fly!
We can go by train, by plane, or by bus.
Caption 5, A Weekend in Amsterdam - Planning the Trip
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We don't train them, we don't do anything like that.
Caption 28, Animal Planet - Lions Treat Woman like the Leader of Their Pride
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The noun "train" is the way to travel on railways, and the verb "to train" is to teach or learn by instruction or drill. Since trains are mechanical machines, they can be engineered, but I don't think they can really be "trained" to behave!
Further Learning
Take a look at this list of 299 English homographs and make yourself familiar with some of the words that are new to you. Once you have looked up the definitions to learn what the different meanings are, find some videos on Yabla English that use the words in different contexts.
Don't be afraid of the difficult-looking words above! It's really quite simple: Homophones are all words that sound the same, but have different meanings. Heterographs are simply homophones that have different spellings. They can be quite confusing in spoken language, because the only way to tell homophones and heterographs apart is by the context in which they are used. The word "homophone" literally means "sounds the same," whereas the word heterograph means "written differently."
English has a large number of heterographs, and this probably has a lot to do with the history of the language. English is a Germanic language, meaning that it has its basic roots in the languages that were spoken in Scandinavia more than a thousand years ago. These peoples, called the Saxons, occupied much of Britain for centuries. But in the 1100s, the Normans, from what is now in France, invaded much of Britain and brought with them influences from the French language. This is also why English spelling can seem so difficult. The mix of languages in its development made for a mix of influences that also changed over time. For example, the word "rough" is pronounced RUFF, but the word "through," with the same -ough letter combination, is pronounced THROO. Let's take a look today at some heterographs in English.
Oh no. It's going to rain all week.
Caption 20, Sigrid explains - The Weather
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There have been ravens here since the reign of Charles the Second.Caption 9, The London Story - Tower of London
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The words "rain" and "reign" sound the same. But if somebody is talking about weather, you'll know they are probably talking about rain. On the other hand, if the talk is about a king or a queen, they are likely discussing reigns.
I can hear about what they've been up to since they've been here.
Caption 48, The Apartment - Maggie's Visit
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In the example above, the heterographs "hear" and "here" both appear in the same sentence. Again, in most cases you can tell the difference in their meanings by the contexts in which the words are spoken.
OK, sure, it looks complicated, but bear with us.
Caption 3, Brexit - What Happens When the UK Leaves the EU?
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The koala bear is not a bear. It's a marsupial.
Caption 38, English with Lauren - Contradictions
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And our nightgowns are trailing and our feet are bare.
Caption 10, Katie Melua - Moonshine
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In the first example above, we see the verb "to bear," which figuratively means "to have patience" or literally "to carry" something. The noun "bear," which refers to a large mammal, is a homophone of the verb "to bear." They are spelled the same but mean different things. The last example, "bare," sounds the same as the verb "to bear" and the noun "bear," but is spelled differently. "Bare" can mean "uncovered," as in "bare feet," or "empty," as in "a bare cupboard." So a silly sentence like "Bear with the bare bear" means "Have patience with the uncovered large animal."
Pollination happens when insects, such as bees, or wind, or other forces of nature transport pollen from one flower to another.
Captions 31-32, Luana explains - Plants
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Mix the baking powder well into the flour before adding it to the other ingredients.
Caption 14, English Afternoon Tea - Victoria Sponge - The Royal Connection
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Again, the context in which the word is spoken will help you to know if the speaker is talking about flowers or an ingredient in a recipe!
Further Learning
Take a look at this list of 335 English heterographs and make yourself familiar with some of the words that are new to you. Then choose a pair of words that are pronounced the same, but spelled differently, and find some videos on Yabla English that use the words. Listen to the videos with the captions turned off so you can practice listening to the two words in the context of the videos. In most cases, you will probably know which word is meant! You can also watch the 10-Part Yabla series "The History of the English Language."
If you ever decide to move to an English-speaking country, you may be looking for an apartment or house to rent. Let's take a look today at some of the basic English terminology related to renting a place of your own! Note that in some countries like the UK, an apartment is often informally called a "flat."
Are you still looking for an apartment?
Caption 3, Side by Side: Beginners Looking for an apartment
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The first step in finding an apartment is to look for one! Sometimes people also say they are "apartment-hunting."
Hi, I'm calling about an apartment that I saw listed on craigslist?
Caption 33, Jessica and Liz: How Much and How Many
Play Caption
How much does it cost? -A thousand a month.
Caption 36, Jessica and Liz How Much and How Many
Play Caption
Looking on the internet is one of the best ways to find listings for rental apartments. Some people still use a website called craigslist, but in the United States, one of the most popular current websites is Zillow. Once you have found an available apartment that meets your requirements for size, price, and neighborhood etc., you can make an appointment to see the apartment.
Many employers don't check references at this stage of the application process.
Caption 4, Business Life: Curriculum Vitae
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The video above is about a job application, but when you find an apartment you like, you will then need to fill out an apartment application. In your application, you state things like job and landlord references. Sometimes potential landlords will ask your permission to run a credit check on you, which in some cases requires you to pay a fee. You may have to pay this fee whether you get the apartment or not, so be careful in these situations!
And how soon can you send us the contract to finalize the deal?
Caption 48, The Company: Difficulties with Coworkers and Contracts
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Once your rental application and credit check are approved, the next step is for you to sign a rental contract. This is often referred to as a "lease."
And if you're interested you can put down a deposit. How much money do you want for the deposit? 200 for the deposit and I'd like the first month's rent up front.
Captions 49-51, Jessica and Liz: How Much and How Many
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In most cases, you will be required to pay a rental deposit, either directly to the landlord, or into a shared escrow account. The amount is usually the equivalent of two or three months' rent.
Where are my keys?
Caption 50, Parts of Speech: Question Words
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Once you have signed the rental contract, it is standard for the landlord to give you the keys to the apartment.
I'm so excited to show her our new apartment.
Caption 3, The Apartment: Maggie's Visit
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Congratulations on getting your new place, at least in theory! A good English vocabulary will help you in your quest, but you'll need a little bit of luck too!
Further Learning
Go to Yabla English and watch the entire Looking for an Apartment video, then practice any new words that you've learned. Happy holidays from Yabla!
This is the third and final lesson about non-digital office supplies that we use in the workplace and at school. You probably know some of the words already, but today let's take a look at some items that may be new to your vocabulary.
On your desktop you will see a folder marked "Irish Promotion."
Caption 32, The Company: Starting on a New Job
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This book is big. This is a red folder.
Caption 31, Parts of Speech: Introduction
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A folder is a folded piece of plastic or thin cardboard that you can store papers in. Like many office supplies, the folder has a digital counterpart, such as the virtual folders on your computer desktop.
I take notes in a notebook or on a notepad.
Caption 9, The Alphabet: The Letter N
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Do you know where you can see da Vinci's notebook?
Caption 20, Visit London: Top 10 London Attractions
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A notebook or notepad is a bit like a book with blank pages. Sometimes they are bound like a book, and sometimes they are bound with piece of spiral wire. Some laptop computers are called notebooks or notepads. So while Leonardo da Vinci would probably have been very impressed with a laptop, they hadn't yet been invented in the 15th century!
And in this cubby I have my interior design tools like my scale ruler and my measuring tape.
Captions 39-40, Creative Space: An Artist's Studio
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A cubby, also called a "cubbyhole," is a small shelf that may be part of a desk or part of a free-standing shelf. Cubbyholes are convenient for keeping items that you use a lot within easy reach.
A scale ruler is a kind of ruler that designers and architects often use. Unlike a flat ruler, the scale ruler is shaped on the end like a 3-pointed star and has 6 sides.
A measuring tape, also called a "tape measure," is for measuring things that are longer than a standard ruler. Measuring tapes roll up into a small case that you can carry in your pocket.
Let's get down to brass tacks.
Caption 20, Groucho Marx: You Bet Your Life
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A tack, or "thumbtack," is usually a round piece of metal with a pin attached that allows you to attach papers onto a bulletin board or a wall.
A bulletin board is a somewhat large board usually made out of cork for tacking papers onto. A tack with a plastic handle that makes it easier to pull out is called a push-pin.
Note that in the video caption above, the phrase "to get down to brass tacks" is an expression that means "to get down to the basic facts." It probably came from Cockney rhyming slang.
Further Learning
Review Part I and Part II of this office supplies series to see if you remember the different English names for the various items commonly found in an office. Then go to to Yabla English and watch the videos above to get a better overview of the words you just learned. If you're feeling really brave, read the Wikipedia article above and see if you can invent your own Cockney rhyming slang for something!
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